Making pizza at home is fun, surprisingly easy and means you can top it with all your favourite pizza toppings. This Easy Homemade Pizza Dough recipe is all you need to get started. You’ll never buy take away pizza again!
For best results, always weigh ingredients where a weight is provided
Instructions
In the bowl of a stand mixer with dough hook attached, combine the dough ingredients in this order - flour, yeast, sugar - give a quick stir - then salt, olive oil, warm water.
Mix on low-medium speed for 7-8 minutes until smooth and elastic. See notes for kneading by hand.
Lightly oil a bowl and place the dough inside, flipping until it's lightly oiled all over. Cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place until it has doubled in size - see notes.
After it has risen, remove the plastic wrap and gently turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut the dough into 2 pieces, shape each into a ball and cover with a dry tea towel. Allow them to sit for another 15 minutes to prove.
Preheat oven to 230C / 450F / 210C fan forced. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
On a lightly floured surface, roll and gently stretch each ball of dough out into a circle roughly 10 inches in diameter and 5mm thick.
Transfer to a pizza tray, add toppings and bake for 12-15 minutes.
Notes
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: dough scraper, pizza tray, stand mixer, pizza cutter.
FOR BEST RESULTS: you should always weigh ingredients like flour and sugar. Kitchen scales are relatively cheap but if you can’t weigh the ingredients, use the spoon and level method (don’t scoop)
FLOUR: The bread flour can be swapped for plain / all purpose flour. Bread flour gives a slightly chewier texture to the baked pizza base.
YEAST: You can use instant or active dry interchangeably. If you have rapid rise, the dough may rise quicker than this recipe states.
KNEADING BY HAND: You can knead the dough by hand but it is a little sticky. Please resist the urge to add flour. It will eventually firm up and stop sticking to your hands and bench top. It should take around 10 minutes to get smooth and elastic.
RISING TIME: Normally half an hour will be enough for the dough to double in size (especially if you place it under a warm light or lamp) but it may take up to an hour or longer in winter. Just make sure it doubles in size.
SLOW RISE: For a more intense flavour to the pizza dough, leave it to rise overnight in the fridge.
FREEZING DOUGH: You can freeze pizza dough after the first rise. After turning it out onto a lightly floured surface, shape it into a ball, coat with a little oil all over and place in a zip lock bag. Place it straight in the freezer for up to 2 months.
TO THAW: Place in the fridge overnight. Take it out of the fridge ½ an hour before you’re ready to make pizza.
PIZZA RECIPES: The pizza shown in the picture is topped with tomato paste, leg ham, mozzarella, cherry tomato halves in that order, then seasoned with salt and pepper. You could also try Meat Lovers Pizza, Tandoori Chicken Pizza or Pesto Chicken Calzone.
Have you tried this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating and comment below and let me know how it was! I love hearing from you. Nutrition information is approximate and derived from an online calculator. The brands you use may cause variations.